Lister



April 17, 1945.

W. H. SILVER I LISTER 3 SheetS -Sheet 1 FIG. I

lb? if Zl3 0 w o 219 218 2 215 I a?" 220 a? WALTER SILVER April 17, 1945.

FIG; 2

W. H. SILVER LISTER Original Filed Jan. 29, i940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 WALTER H. SILVER April 17, 1945. H E 2,373,920 LISTER y Y Original Filed Jan. 29, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet s FIG. 3

vWALTER H. SILVER UNlTED STAT Patented Apr. 17, 1945 E OFFICE LISTER; i M

f -WalterH. Silver, Moline, Ill., assignor to Deere nois' Original 316,089.

a Company, Moline, 111., ajcorporationof Illiimitation-amen, 1940, Serial No.

Divided and this application. Septemher 7, 1M2, Serial No. 457,617

' 9 Claims. v (01. 111 -59 This application is'a division of my co-pending application, SerialNo, 316,089, filed'January 29,

1940, now Patent No. 2,323,278, issued June 29} s This invention relates generally to agricultural machines and is more particularly concerned with agricultural machines embodying .a tractor and an implement operatively connected therewith.

The object and general nature of the present invention is the provision of'an agriculturalmachine inwhich new and improved quick'det'achable driving connections are provided foroperae .tively connecting a detachable operating unit "or units with a driving part on thetractor. An-

other important feature of the present invention is the provision of. a planting implement having whenever necessary to clearthe same ofaccumus lated trash; v More specifically, it is a featureof 'thepresent .invention to provide an agricultural machine in which theimplementuirame. may be shifted relative to the supporting or propelling tractor and in which the driving connections by. which the operating-unit or units of the implement are connections are detachable. which may be readily accomplished, as aforesaid.

. Another "feature of the present invention resides in the provision of an implement of the .tractormounted type in which a readily detachable partserves to automatically establish a drivingconnection by theact of connecting said part tothe tractor. I I V An'additionalfeature of. the present invention .is the provision of manually controlled means for raising thecovering, shovels or other. covering cf=a planting implement, suchas a listen.

.In some farming sections where stalks and the covering shovels and means for raising the latter driven from the tractor readily'accommodate such relative movement. Particularly; it is a feature of the present invention to provide a sprocket and chain driving means from one of "the rear axles of the'tra'ctor to the central portion of the implement. this invention to provide. adriving connection of v It is also a feature of the sprocket and chain type in which the afore-v said relative movement is accommodatedby virtue of a swinging membercarrying at least apart of the sprocket and chain driving means and operatively connected with either the tractor or the implement so as to'be swungan amount" necessaryto accommodate the change in relative position of the implement with'respect 'to the I tractor so as to maintain the operating units of the, tractor in driving relation with "respect to the associated driving axle or othermeans on the tractor dperatingsaid'units. An additional fee;-

. ture of the present invention resides in the provision of an agricultural machine of the bedder type, with readily detachableplanting units and also readily detachable connections for .driving the planting units from the .tractonandit is still further a feature of theinvention to provide such driving connections with a disconnect clutch which, While being operatively associated with implement lifting means ontheutractor, is automaticallydisconnectedtherefrom when the drivaccumulated stalks, trash and the like.

like are turned under in the fall and theplanting of a new crop completed in the spring, the covering means .of the planting machine sometimes tend to dragthese stalks out of the ground and bring them to thesurface, and sometimes the stalks and the -like clog the shovels and prevent .2

therefore, of the present invention to provide ineansaccessible to the operator and controlled by him for-raising the shovels or other covering them from operating properly. It is a feature,

means whenever necessary to clear, the same of Here- .tofore, so far as applicant is aware, it has been necessary forthe operatorunder such conditions to dismount and clear out the accumulated trash by hand. The provision of means permittingthe operator to readily raise the covering means is .thereforean important feature of the present invention. Still further, in this connection it is a feature of the-present invention to provide shovel raising means which-is readily detachable from '"the'i-mplement. along with the. planting units and the planter driving connections.

These and, other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after .aconsideration of the following detailed description of the preferred structural embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrating the same.

rear-view of the machine shown have been incorporated comprises supporting means in the form of a tractor I and an implement of the integral type indicated generally at 2. The tractor I is of the usual construction, comprising frame means 3, a rear axle housing 4 having lateral extensions or quills 5 and 6 in which drive axles I and 8 are journaled for rotation. Rear drive wheels 9 and I are fixed to the axle shafts I and 8, respectively. In Figure 2, the near rear wheel has been removed in order to show the other parts of the machine more clearly. A seat I2 forms the operators station on the tractor when operating the outfit.

The implement 2 as disclosed is a bedder 'or middlebreaker and includes a frame made up of two generally longitudinally extending bars I and I6 connected at their rear ends by plates ll to a transverse frame bar I 8 which extends laterally outwardly at each side of the tractor and rearwardly of the wheels 9 and I0, the frame bars I5 and I6 having the requisite length to accommodate this arrangement. The frame bars I5 and I6 are formed at their forward ends with convergent sections I50. and Iiia which are connected at 2| to a hitch connection of any suitable construction, as indicated at 22.- Preferably,

however, the hitch connection 22 is of the type which accommodates some generallylongitudinal shifting movement of the associated implement frame, which may be due to a yielding of the hitch under excessive draft loads or may be provided for adjustment purposes to dispose the tools or other operating means in different positions relative to the tractor. The implement 2 includes a plurality of tools or furrow openers in the form of lister bottoms 25. In the machine illustrated there are four bottoms fixed to the transverse implement frame bar l8, but only the two central bottoms have been shown in the drawings (Figures 1 and 3). The two outer tools are disposed outwardly beyond the rear tractor Wheels 9 and H] and are of substantially the same construction as the two tools shown. 4 Each bottom 25 is fixed to a standard 26 which is pivoted at 27 to a bracket 28 that is fixedly clamped to the bar l8. To this end, each bracket 28 has a cap 29, and the two are bolted together so as to fixedly secure the associated bottom to the frame bar I8. Since the latter is of uniform cross section, the lateral spacing between the several tools 25 may be varied as desired to accommodate different row spacing. A friction clamp 3i (Figure 2) fixedly secured the standard 26 to the associated bracket, as will be readily understood. As shown in Figure 2, the beams I5 and IS are formed with a section 33 which is bent so as to clear the tractor axle housing, and then the beams are extended upwardly and rearwardly to their points of connection with the transverse frame bar I8. The implement frame is thus capable of vertical floating movement relative to the tractor about its drive connection 2| therewith. At each-laterally outer end, or adjacent thereto, of the transverse frame bar I8, 7

there is connected a gauge wheel 35 which is mounted on the forward end of a crank axle 36 (Figure 2), the rear end of which is pivoted to a' bracket 3'I that is fixed to the frame bar I8 in any suitable manner. If desired, the gauge wheels 35 and associated parts may be connected to the frame bar I8 inside of the laterally outer bottoms (not shown) and outside the inner bottoms 25, shown in Figure 1, and the position of each gauge wheel is controlled by a lever 33 fixed at its lower end to a rockshaft39- (Figure 2) which is mounted for rocking movement at its inner end in a bearing support or other means carried by the associated connecting plate I1.

. and I6.

. enforced by diagonal braces 5I and 52.

The outer end of each of the rockshafts 39 is 'operatively connected to swing the associated gauge wheel 35 and crank axle 36 for the purpose of determining the operating position of the tool means 25. The particular manner in swinging the crank axles 36 and associated gauge wheels 35 by the rockshafts 39 and hand levers 38 does not per se form a art of the present invention. It will therefore be suflicient to note that each hand lever 38 controls a gauge wheel and when locked to its associated sector each hand lever 38 fixes the associated gauge wheel against movement relative to the implement frame, whereby the operating position of the tool means is determined. Furthermore, the gauge wheels and associated parts may be lifted with the tools out of operating position and into a transport position whenever the implement frame is raised.

As best indicated in Figures 1 and 2, the implement frame 2 is raised and lowered under the controlof power lift mechanism carried by the tractor and indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 60. The power lift mechanism perse is of conventional construction, deriving power for its operation from the tractor motor and including a transversely disposed rockshaft 52 mounted for rocking movement in the upper 40 portion of a :power' lift casing 63 and extending laterally outwardly therefrom at each end, an arm fi lbeing fixed to each end of the power lift shaft; 62. A second arm 65 is pivoted to each arm 54 and at its outer end is pivoted, as at 66, to a generally vertically extending link 6'! which at its lower nd is pivoted to the associated beam, I5 or I6, by a bracket 68 (Figure 1). Each pair of the interconnected arms 64 and .65 are capable of relative movement one with respect to the other so as to permit the implement to have the vertical floating movement, as described above, when in operation. However, stop means ll] is carried by one of the arms so as to engage the other whereby when the power lift shaft 62 is rocked, both arms swing together as a single armto raise the associated portion of the implement.

Normally, whenthe outfit is in operation, the two lifting arms 64 and 65 are capable of relative movement, as shown in Figure 2, whereby the implement is entirely independent of the tractor, so far as its position is concerned, the implement working at the depth determined by the setting of the two lever controlled gauge wheels. Therefore, the implement may conform to all irregularities in the ground surface encountered during operation, yet uniformity of work is insured. When in operation, especially when four bottoms are utilized, together with planting units described below, auxiliary springs 'II are provided. Each spring II is adjustably connected at its upper end by a crank I2 to the associated power lift arm 64, and the lower end of each spring TI is connected by a bracket I3 to the associated implement beam. These auxiliary springs tend aevaorzo t'o'offset the weight of the equipment The arsprings1I- are disclosed in detail and claimed'in my prior patent, No. 2,196,031, dated'April 2,'1940,

towhich reference may be had, if necessary.-" f

The implement as so far described isge'nerally i-angement and connection of the auxiliary 9 According to 'theprincipIes of the presentin v'ention the means -fo'rdriving: the several seeding shaftsticomprises detachable connections driven "from one'of -the tractor wheelsQor some other termed'an integral bedder andwhenyequipped with lister ormiddlebreaker bottoms, asdescribed,

is used for bedding, blank listing,- pointing out'or plowing out'stalk rows, cleaning middles, sweep s beds, a'nd many other operations? Further,

.an implement of this'kind is adapted to receive planting equipment for planting ,on the beds or in the trenches between the beds.

' The planting equipment and the ,mechanism for driving the same and performing other operations in conjunction therewith will now be described.-

A-plant'ing unit is preferably associated with I each'of. the furrow openers .25, and each planting unitis indicated in its entirety by the'reference numeral 80; It'will be understood, also, that a fpart'of the" tractor, and a centrally locatedshaft section IOI which at its-laterally outer ends is connected.to-telescopic -sleeves 93a of substanf' tially the same 'construction' as but somewhat shorter than thesleeves 93'de'scribed "above. A

sprocket I 03 is fixed -to the central portion of the shaft-section I01 and receives a -drivingchain. I05

"fwhich is trained around'a'sp'rocket I05 carried at one endof'a shortjshaft I00 that is supported for,

rotation ina sleeve I01, one end of which is fixed to summ ts; -Theend of the arm I08 opposite the shaft-"receiving sleeve I01 is fixed to a short shaft I lfl which'i'smountedfor rockin movement in a bracket II'I-"which is'fix'edly securedto the jleft-hand'axle housing 5 by means which will be described belowqJournaled for rotation on the "shaft I I Ilis a sleeve I I5 that carries two sprockets planting unit is associated with each of the outer furrow openers (not, shown) Eachplaritingunit 8 0. consists of a seed can 8| supported upon a base or. frame 82 which, in turn, is supported by means being'fpreferably secured to the cap 29 at upper end of the associated bracket 28. The base 82*includes c'onventio'nal seed selecting mechanism which is driven by a transverse seed ingshaft 85,'whi-c h operates to select and deliver seed through a spout 86 into the funnel-shaped u per end'81 of a seed tube 08.- As'best shown in Figures 1 and 3, the'delivery of the-seed from disconnecting the seed cans from the brackets 83,

whichever is the most convenient The seed tubes 88 are detachable with the associated seeding units. 7 e v I a y i The seeding shaft 85 of each seeding unit 8% forms a'more or less permanent part thereof and is disposed longitudinally'of the transverse frame bar I8, as shown in Figures 1 and 3. The several seeding shafts 85 are adapted to be connected together by means especially adapted, first, to

facilitate connecting the 'seedingshafts together, whether one, two, three, four or even more units 1 of "a bracket 83 on the transverse frame bar' I8,

the

" IIG'and I11. I The sprocket I16 receives a chain I20 which atfits upper end is trained around a [sprocket I-2I that is fixed to the shaft I00 upon which "the sprocket, IDS-is fixed. The sprocket l I1 receives a chain I22 which at its inner or forward end is trained around a sprocket I23 that is fixed 'to the innerendl'of 'a shaft driven from a sprocket on the left-hand'fdriving axle,as best shown in Figure l, which also shows the bracket 'that detachably supports the shaft last mentioned and also the bracket IIIthat carries the shaft Referring now to Figure 4, the left-hand v axle housing 5 is provided with lugs I26 which are apertured to receive attaching studs I21, being standard equipment for'the tractor I.' A sup- 3 portingbracket' I30 is provided with extensions 'aremounted on the same implement, and second,

to facilitate the ready and'convenient attachment and detachment of means for driving all of the seedin units fromth'tractor. To this end each seeding shaft carries at its ends thereof connecting member 9 I, comprising a polygonal member, suitably secured to thejends of the shaft 85 H by a set screw or other means. .Betweeneach end of eachlshaft 85, and the shaft 85 of the associated adjacent unit is a pair'of telescopically associated members 93 and 94, the former being in the form of .a sleeve having a .sock'et end 96 which is adapted to jnonerot'atably receive the polygonal member 0 I Each sleeve93 carries one.

or more set screws H1 by which it is fastened in I 3I'fand I32 each of which is provided with a keyhole slot 1-33 and an open slot I34 which engage the studs 'I21, whereby'when the latter'are tightened; the bracket I30 is firmly fixed to the trac- 1tor;'but when the studs I21 are loosened, the

bracket 130 may be readily detached from the tractor merely by disengaging the-same from the loosened studs.

The bracket I30 includes a sleeve section I'36'in 'which a shaft I31 is ,journaled for rotation, The inner end of the shaft I31 is screw-threaded, as at I38, and receives a nut I39. Thisportion of the shaft I31 is reduced in diameter and receives aspring I4I which'is seated in an axial recess I42 formed in the extended hub I44 ofthe sprocket member" I23, whichis'rotatsabl'eyon theinner reduced end of the shaft I31.

The inner end of the hub I44 is serrated and cooperateswith a similar member I46 which is fixedto the" inner end of the shaft I31 in any suitable manner.

anyone of various axial position to th associated" member 94. The laterally outer ends of thefshaft members may be connected directly to the correspondingmemben'lll'ofithe outside unit ajssociated "therewith, or the member 94 may be connected thereto through another axially adjus'table'sleeve 93,"if desired. I

I46, together with' the spring I, constitutes a slip clutch, as will be readily understood. The sprocket I23 drives the chain I22, and the latter drives the chain I20 through the'two sprockets I16 and H1 and the sleeve II5 to which they are fixed; The chain, I20 drives the chain I04 through the sprockets I05 and I 2I, and the chain I04 drives the seeding shaft drivingsection NH. The arm I08, to which the sleeve I01 receiving the short shaft I06 is fixed, is mounted for rockingmovement in a generally longitudinal direction by virtue of its pivotalsupport on the rear "end of the bracket III. The several chains and associated sprockets therefore form articulated means for driving the seeding'units'which means The hub I44'and the member scribed above, arises either by virtue of the yielding hitch or by virtue of longitudinal adjustment at the point of hitch. The arm I08, carrying the shaft I06 and the associated sprockets I and I2I, is connected with the shaft section IN by means of an adjustable link I49 which consists of two sections I5! and I52 adjustably secured together by bolts I53. The upper end of the. upper link section ,I5I is pivoted for movement about the axis of the shaft, I06, and the lower end of the lower link section I52 is connected for pivotal movement about the axis of the shaft section IOI. link sections and the connecting bolts'I53 therefore permit adjusting the chain I04 as may be required, yet the link I49 as a whole swings the arm I 08 so that the two articulated driving chain sections I and I04 accommodate any longitudinal movement of th implement frame relative to the tractor. They also accommodate vertical movement of the frame relative to the tractor as well as any lateral tilting. In this respect, the connection of the chain I04 to the central portion of the implement means facilitates the driving connections accommodating relative tilting movement in a lateral direction between the implement and the tractor.

For driving the shaft I31 that is supported for rotation on the tractor by the bracket I30, the dIiVing axle 1 at the left side of the tractor in the axle housing 5 is provided with a driving sprocket I55. This part is preferably made of two mating sections, whereby the sprocket may be mounted on the driving axle 1 without removin the rear'wheel 9. The bracket I is arranged to support the shaft I31 with its outer end disposed adjacent to driving sprocket I55. A roller pinion I51 is mounted for rotation, on the outer end of the shaft I31 and at its laterally outer face is provided with clutch teeth I58 that are adapted to mesh with similar clutch teeth formed on a clutch member I59 pinned, as at I6I, to the outermost end of the shaft I31. Thus, when the roller pinion I51 is engaged with the clutch member I59, and when the bracket I30 is fixed to the axle housing so as to hold the shaft I31 with the roller pinion I51 in engagement with the driving sprocket gear I55, the drive is transmitted from the driving axle 1 through the roller pinion I51 and the shaft I31 to the pinion I23, and from there the drive is transmitted through the driving chains I22, I20, and I04 to the shaft section ,IOI that drives the various seeding units. For moving the clutch means I58, I59 into and out of engagement, a rod member I65 is mounted for rocking and sliding movement in a pair of laterally paced apart lugs I66 and I61, preferably formed integrally with the bracket I30. The lug E66 is provided with a cam flange I69 with which the bent end I1I of the rod member I65 cooperates. The outer end of the rod I65 receives a collar I14 which is fixed thereto by a set screw I15, and the collar I14 is disposed in a slot I16 formed in a clutch shiftin member I11. The latter is provided with a depending fork I18 which is received in a groove I10 formed in a laterally in-- wardly extending flange section I8I formed on or carried by the roller pinion I51. The latter is formed with a pair of transversely spaced flanges I83 which are apertured to receive pins I84 upon which rollers I are mounted. The spacing between the flanges I83 is sufficient to permit the roller pinion I51 to shift axially relative to the sprocket gear member I55 that is fixedto the driving axle 1, and as best shown in Figure 4, the ex- The adjustment provided by the two Oil tended hub section I8I of the roller pinion I51 is formedto telescope with the laterally outer portion of the bracket I30 in which the shaft I31 is journaled for rotation. Thus, axial shifting movement of the rod I65 transversely of the tractor serves to move the roller pinion I51 into and out of engagement with the clutch member I59 that is fixed to the outer end of the shaft I31. The bent end I1I of the rod I65 is so arranged that when it lies in an upper and forward position, with respect to the axis of the rod I65, a spring I81 that surrounds the inner end of the rod I and bears at one end against the bracket I66 and at the other end against the pin I88 carried by the rod I65, causes the latter to shift the member I11 and the roller pinion I51 into a position in which the clutch teeth I58 engage the clutch member I59. Thereupon rotation of the driving axle 1 and the sprocket gear member I55 rotates the shaft I31 and the driving connections therefrom to the shaft section IOI, When the end I1I of the rod member I15 is rocked downwardly and forwardly, the cam flange I69 acts against the end I1I to cause the rod member I65 to shift laterally inwardly. This movement acts through the fork I18 to move the roller pinion I51 out of engagement with the clutch member I59, thereby interrupting the drive from the driving axle 1 to the shaft I31, thereby discontinuing the operation of the seeding units. The spring I81 is arranged so that it automatically returns the rod I65 to the position shown in Figure 4. The member I65 is automatically operated to disengage the clutch I58, I59 when the implement is raised, by means of an arm I9I (Figure 1) fixed to the left-hand power lift arm 64 in a position to engage the end I1I of the rod I65 and force it down over the cam flange I69 when the power lift shaft 62 is operated to raise the implement into its transport position. When the implement is lowered, the spring I81 returns the rod I65 to the position shown in Figure 4, thereby reengaging the seeding drive. The arm I9I is fastened to the power lift arm 64 by a bolt I92 or other suitable means.

In certain farming sections it is the custom to go through the field with the bedder after the crop has been harvested and plow under the stalks and other growth, forming new beds. In the following springthe beds are planted. In the latter operation, it has been found that the usual covering shovels associated with the planter engage the stalks and other growth, which were turned under in the previous bedding operation, and drag them to the surface, which necessitated frequently stopping ,the outfit to clear out the stalks and other trash which tend to accumulate on the covering shovels, clog them and prevent their proper operation. Generally, the covering shovels or other covering means are fixed to the planting units, either rigidly or held in position by spring means,-and to pull out the stalks, trash and the like required the operator to stop the outfit and go around and remove the accumulations on the shovels or other covering means.

According to the present invention, I have provided an arrangement wherein the covering shovels are mounted for pivotal movement and are adapted to be raised by means accessible to the operator on the tractor seat, so as to clear out accumulated stalks, trash and the like without requiring that the operator stop the outfit.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 1 and 2, it will be seen that the present invention contemplates a bracket 20I fixedly secured to each of the furrow opener standardsin anysuitable manner, preferably, by being bolted between the seed-can bracket 83 and the cap 28', as shown in Figure 2. Each seeding unit includes a bracket 20!, and each bracket is provided at its rear end with a rockshaft receiving section 202in whicha rockshaft 203 is mounted for rocking movement. Y

The shaft receiving sections-202 are open at their upper side so that the rockshaft may be disconnected merely by lifting thesame away from the brackets 20! To hold the rockshaft 203'in posi= tion, I provide clips 205 which are pivoted, as at 204, to the bracket 20! associated therewith. By turning the clips 205 laterally about the bolt 204, it may be swung over into a position holding the rockshaft in place or laterally'to one side thereof to permit the removal of the shaft when desired.

. The rockshaft 203, extends the entire width of'the implement and is provided with a plurality of arms 206, there being as many arms as there are planting units 80. Preferably, each arm is fixed to the shaft 203 so as to permit lateral adjustment along the shaft, whereby the arms maygbe spaced according to the number of planting units. The

manner of connecting each arm 206. to theassociated shaft 203 is not specifically illustrated, since any form of connecting means may be uti lized as desired. Preferably, however, each arm 20.6 is fixed to a sleeve that receives the shaft 203, I

and each sleeve carries one or more set screws by which the arm may be fixed to the shaft 203 to rock therewith. A pair of arms 20'! are fixed,v

as by weldingto the shaft 203, and a handlever 208 is disposed between and fixedlysecured to the arms 201, as by bolts 209. If desired,'the shaft 203 may be formedv in right and leftv handsections, with the arms 20'! welded, respectively, to the inner ends of the two shaft sections, in which case the bolts 209 securing, the arms 20'! to the hand lever 208 serve also as means connecting the two shaft sections together.

the operator merely releases the handlever: and

the weight of the several coveringunits cause them to return to their operating position. If desired, springmeans may be provided for urging the covering means downwardly into operating position. small stopZl! mounted oneach shaft 203: and e'ngageable witha part of the frame, such as the as'sociatedbracket (Figure 2) may bepro vided for limiting the rearward'mo-vement of the lever 208; Itwill be understood that the outer I planting units (not shown) are also-provided with covering units and connected toibe'raised and lowered by the rocking of the shaft 203, in substantially the same manner as described above in connection with the two inner planter units shown i'nFigure 1.. w

Fromtheabovedescription it will be apparent that the agricultural machineI have provided embodies featureswhereby it may be readily ehan'gedover into a planting outfit, or into a I bedderwithout plantingequipment,quite readily. For example, looking at Figure 1, all that it is necessary 'to-do to disconnect. the drive from the gear I 55 to the planting units is to disconnect the bracket: !30, loosen the set screws 9! con- 1 necting'thesleeves93a to the shaft section !0!, slip" the sleeves 93a laterallyinwardly away from the associated seeding shafts 85, whereupon the entire driving-mechanism from the gear I55 to theseeding'unitsmay be removed from the ma- The outer or rear endof each of the arms 206 l is connectedby a chain or any other suitable means, as indicated at. 2"), with the associated covering means. Generally, the covering means usually employed consists of a coverer frame 2.! 2, comprising a pair of bars 213 and 2M pivotally connected at their forward ends through the plow bottom standard 26 associated therewith, and a cross bar 2I5. Clamps 2l8and 219 serve to fix the covering shovels 220 and 22! to the coverer frame 2!2. Abolt 223'or other suitable means connects the lowerend of the chain M0 to the associated coverer frame 212.

chine. Likewise, the shaft. 203 may be removed readily, merely by loosening the bolts 206, turning the clips 20-5"sideways, andthen lifting the shaft 203 out of the brackets 20!. The coverer frames 2I2 may be removed, if desired, by detaching the pivotalconnection at their forward ends, as in conventionalpractice. 1

It will also be noted that the drive I have provided; extendingfrom the driving axle Tat one side of the tractor over to the central portion of the implement operating units, readily accommodates any lateral tilting of the implement with respect to the tractorwithout causing excessive relative movement between the various parts of the drive itself. Furthermore, the driving iconnectionsaresuch thatthe implement frame may be shifted longitudinally relative to the tractor,

either by virtue of a yielding cushion hitch or. by virtue of some adjustment which it may be desired to make, without affectingthe efficiency of the drive. It may alsobe mentioned that the T use of a roller pinion and a particular type of As'best. shown in Figure 2, each covererframe 2l2 is. 1 arranged to extend rearwardly of the associated i seed boot 225 so that the covering shovels are disposed rearwardly of the planterrunner 226 which is fixed to the lower end of the'seed boot 225, the latter being, in turn, fixed to thestand; ard 26 in any suitable manner.

225 bythe bottom 25 associated therewith.

From Figure 2 it will be clear that when the ill) The lowerend of the seed tube 88 delivers seed to the boot which directs theseed into the furrow opened stalks and other trash that tends to be collected by the covering shovels 220 and 22! under cer' tain operating conditions reach the point where the proper operation of the covering means is afi'ected, all the operator has to do is to reach back and rock the hand lever 208 forwardly, thus acting through the several chains to raise all of the covering shovels o'ut'of engagement with the ground and releasing the accumulated stalks, trash and the like. When this is done connection between the power lift arm !9! and be limited to the particular details shown and described above, but that, in fact, widely different meansmay be employed in the practice of the'broad'er aspects of my invention.

'What I claim, therefore, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. 'An agricultural implement. comprising the Any suitable meansysuch as a.

combination with a tractor of an implement frame including generally longitudinally extend ing frame beams and a transverse frame bar secured to the rear ends of said beams, means connecting the forward ends of said frame beams with the tractor forward of the rear wheels thereof, said beams extending rearwardly beyond said rear wheels, a pair of standards fixed in laterally spaced relation to said transverse frame bar, furrow openers fixed to the lower ends of said standards, seeding means carried by said implement frame and including a pair of seeding units, each having seed depositing means disposed behind the associated furrow opener, means driven by one of the rear wheels for driving said seeding units, and driving means for driving said seeding units from said wheel driven means, said driving. means including a shaft detachable from the tractor and carrying driven mechanism detachably connected with said first mentioned drive means, c

detachment of said shaft and said second mentioned driving means facilitating detachment of the seeding units from the implement frame.

2. An agricultural implement comprising the combination with a tractor having rear Wheels, of an implement frame connected with the tractor for both fore and aft movement relative thereton and also lateral tilting about a generally longitudinal axis, a pair of standards fixed to the rear end of said frame in laterally spaced relation, a furrow opener carried at the lower end of each standard, a planting unit supported on the upper end of each standard, each planting unit including a drive shaft therefor, the drive shaft of one unit extending toward the drive shaft of the other, a central drive shaft connected adjacent its outer ends with the inner ends of said first mentioned drive shafts, and means deriving power from the rear axle of said tractor for driving said central shaft, said driving means including articulated means accommodating said fore and aft movement and connected with said central drive shaft and accommodating movementabout said longitudinal axis.

3. An agricultural implement comprising the combination with a tractor of an implement frame connected at its forward end with the tractor for generally fore and aft movement relative thereto, seeding means carried by said frame rearwardly of the tractor and including seeding mechanism adapted to be driven, and means for driving said seeding mechanism from one of said tractor wheels including an articulated sprocket and chain mechanism operatively connected at one end with said seeding mechanism and comprising angled sections arranged to be extended or retracted in a generally fore and aft direction so as to accommodate movement of said implement frame, means detachably supporting the other end of said articulated sprocket and chain mechanism on said tractor adjacent one of the driving wheels, and means for driving said mechanism from the axle shaft of said one wheel.

4. In an agricultural implement comprising the combination with a tractor of an implement frame connected with the tractor and capable of generally fore and aft movement relative thereto, an operating unit carried by the implement frame and means on the tractor for driving the same, a driving connection between said means on the tractor and said operating unit comprising a driving sprocket driven by said means, a driven sprocket associated with said operating unit for driving the latter, chain means operatively connecting said sprockets, a swinging member receiving at least a portion of said chain means and operative by its swinging movement to cause said chain means to accommodate variationsin the distance between said sprockets, means pivotally connecting one end of said swinging ,member with the tractor, and means responsive to movement of the implement frame and operating unit relative to the tractor for causing a corresponding swinging movement of said swinging member, said last mentioned means comprising a link pivotally connected at one end with the implement frame and at its other end with the other end of said swingin member.

5. A driving connection as defined in claim 4, further characterized by a bracket adapted to be connected to thetractor and upporting said swinging ,member for swinging movement, and said chain means including, a double sprocket carried on the swinging end of said swinging member, a chain connecting the double sprocket with said driven sprocket, and a separate chain connecting the double sprocket with said driving sprocket.

6. An agricultural machine comprising the combination with a tractor of an implement adapted to be connected therewith and including operating means, said tractor having laterally extending axle housings and drive axles journaled for rotation therein, and a driving connection between the tractor and said operating means, comprising a bracket detachably connected with one of said axle housings, power transmitting mechanism supported by said bracket and detachably connected with said operating means, and means serving as a pair of gears for driving said mechanism from the driving axle carried in said one axle housing, said driving means being arranged so that one of said gear means is on saidaxle and the other on said bracket whereby driving relations are established by attaching said bracket and are automatically interrupted when said bracket and the associated portion of said driving mechanism are detached from the tractor.

'7. For use with a tractor having an axle housing, a drive axle journaled for rotation therein, a'drive gear fixed to said drive axle and a rockable lift arm, a drive connection comprising a bracket adapted to be attached to said axle hous ing, a driving member journaled for rotation with respect to and carried by said bracket, said member ,being adapted to be meshed with said drive gear when said bracket is attached to said axle housing, a disconnect clutch carried by said bracket and operatively associated with said rotatable member, and rockable means carried by said bracket for controlling said clutch, said rockable means including a part disposed in the path of movement of said lift arm, whereby fix ing said bracket in position on said axle housing automatically disposes said part in a position to be operated to control said clutch by said lift arm and also automatically establishes the drive from said drive gear on the tractor axle to the driving member on said bracket.

8. An agricultural implement comprising the combination with. a tractor, of an implement frame connected with the tractor for both fore and aft movement relative thereto and also lateral tilting about a generally longitudinal axis, seeding means carried by said frame rearwardly of the tractor and including seeding mechanism adapted to be driven, and means for driving said seeding mechanism from the tractor including 9. The invention set forth in claim 8, further relatively movable parts extending rearwardly to characterized by said driving means also inaccommodate said fore and aft movement of the eluding a laterally extending section'and means implement frame and disposed generally cent'ralconnecting it to be driven from one of the axle 1y so as to accommodate said lateral tilting of 5 shafts of the tractor. the implement frame relative to, the tractor about s I WALTERH. SILVER. said generally longitudinal axis. 

